Arkansas Wage and Hour FAQs

Answers to Arkansas Overtime Law Minimum Wage Questions

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How much time does my employer have to pay me after my employment with the company ends?

If the employer terminates the worker, they must pay due wages within seven days of the discharge. In all other situations, payment must be made on the regularly scheduled payday, provided an agreement between the employee and employer does not state otherwise.

What is the minimum wage in Arkansas?

Effective July 24, 2009, the Arkansas minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.

When does an employer have to pay overtime?

An employer must pay non-exempt workers time-and-a-half their regular rate for all hours actually worked in excess of 40 in a single workweek. Hours not actually worked, such as sick days, holidays or vacation time, do not count as hours worked for the purpose of Arkansas overtime law.

Does my employer have to give me meal or other types of breaks?

State and federal laws do not state that break or meal periods must be given. (Arkansas wage and hour law requires rest breaks for workers under the age of 16 in the entertainment industry.) Rest periods for short duration, typically no more than 20 minutes, are common and promote efficiency. Federal and Arkansas wage and hour laws require that these short breaks be counted as hours worked and employees must receive pay for this time. Meal breaks, usually 30 minutes or more, are generally not compensable. The worker, however, must be completely free from job duties, while eating. If not, the employee must be compensated for this time.

Should I be paid for jury duty?

Non-government employers are not required to pay workers on jury duty. Arkansas and federal law does, however, prohibit employers from firing workers who serve jury duty.

What are the requirements for a business to be covered by Arkansas wage and hour laws as opposed to federal laws?

An employer must comply with the strictest child labor laws. To determine which law the company of employees over the age of 17 is covered by, an employer that grosses over $500,000 per year or is engaged in interstate commerce is subject to federal and Arkansas wage and hour law. An employer that makes less than $500,000 per year and is not engaged in interstate commerce but has at least four employees is subject to Arkansas wage and hour laws.